靥 (yè) — (bound form, literary) dimple; smilng dimple
Definition
A literary bound form referring to a dimple, especially the kind shown when smiling (酒靥, 笑靥). It appears almost exclusively in poetic or formal writing, not everyday speech.
bound form
(bound form, literary) dimplesmilng dimple
Easily confused
- 夜yèsound-alikenight (noun)
- 页yèsound-alike(classifier) for pages (of a book, document, paper)
- 液yèsound-alike(bound form) liquid, fluid, juice
- 业yèsound-alike(suffix) industry, line of business (in 行业, 产业, 企业)
- 晔yèsound-alike(bound form) bright, brilliant (used in literary/classical contexts and names)
- 谒yèsound-aliketo pay a formal visit to (a superior, elder, or a site) in a respectful manner
Examples
- ，靥。Tā wēi wēi yí xiào, liǎn shàng lù chū le liǎng gè jiǔ yè.She smiled faintly, revealing two dimples on her face.
- “”。Zhè jù shī yòng "xiào yè rú huā" lái xíng róng nǚ zǐ de měi lì.This line of poetry uses "smile dimples like flowers" to describe a woman's beauty.
- ‘’。Gǔ dài shī rén cháng yòng 'xiào yè' lái miáo xiě nǚ xìng róng yán zhī měi.Ancient poets often used 'smiling dimples' to describe the beauty of women's faces.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 靨; 靥 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
厭
厭yàn靨yè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 靨 uses 面 for face and 厭 for the sound; the simplified 靥 is a later shorthand.
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